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"Okay...one more time!"[break][break]
This is a streak now, after all. Luka's quite eager to see how many more Primarina Twists the pair can pull off!

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Sorry kyle lopez! So long as Luka has a say in it, he won't be getting another crown...[break][break]
Although, doesn't wishing such a thing mean she won't get one herself? Like...karmatically? Oh well...she can deal with that later! For now, she's just going to throw the ball as hard as she can!
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"Ehh, really? Well that's no good! And anyways, I'm making a promise to help you win," Luka says, locking her pinky finger around Greyson's for a moment. "And I don't intend to break it!"[break][break]

Innuendo flies right over her head— she's too sweetly earnest for that. Luka hums as she gets to work, filling buckets with damp, tightly packed sand to start building the foundations of their castle.[break][break]

"So...we have to start with the base, right? And work our way up?" Carnation lips purse while she concentrates and tries not to jostle Greyson too much in the small space they share. "How big do you want it, Monsieur?"[break][break]

---

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Dunking Katherine Fairburne seems a good way to get sent to the shadow realm...but it can't be helped. (or is it Greyson Connors in the seat? fish can't see any numbers sorryyyy).[break][break]
Eager to take the throne again, Luka tosses the ball between her hands before chucking it forwards with all her might.

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"Again, again!"[break][break]
Her Mantine doesn't need to be told twice. With an elegant flip of fins they launch into the air again, trying to execute another perfect Primarina Twist.

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A move tutor this time. Luka offers it to Madeleine in case her Milotic would like to take any lessons, but her fishy friend refuses with an elegant shake of the head. "Fair enough," Luka giggles, and reaches into the water for another prize.

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"Eh? You don't have to do that!" Luka protests, waving her hands. And don't be silly. You gave me your company...that's more than enough."[break][break]
For some reason, she feels rather relieved that Remiel Calcifet has dozed off nearby.[break][break]
With fumbling fingers she affixes the lure to her line, poking the nose of the shiny Umbreon before releasing it back into the water. It bobs there merrily and she watches it until mint frost lets out a rapid series of kitten sneezes.[break][break]
"Oh gosh," she fusses, glancing over at him, "Are you okay?"

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For the moment, it seems that the pair is evenly matched.[break][break]

Though Helios exerts himself the most he allows his opponent to gain no ground. And despite his age he's still spry, able to take the deflected hits with no more than a cuff to the chin. The pair of them moves in almost perfect synchronicity; every action has an equal and opposite reaction.[break][break]

But with this next attack, Helios hopes to tip the scales.[break][break]

This time he takes up the defensive, lithe body moving like water to evade and avoid. But he doesn't move far, eyes fixed on his opponent and analyzing every moment. The first time an opening presents itself his leg shoots out like a javelin, a low and sweeping kick aimed for the back of the knees.[break][break]

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"Wow...you did it, Helios! This is amazing! Are you nervous?"[break][break]

Helios doesn't answer, of course. Instead he turns to Luka, staring down at her with a blazing blue stare. After a moment of consideration he nods, more to himself than anything, and presses a stone into Luka's hands.[break][break]

A Blazikenite.[break][break]

Luka swallows thickly as she stares down at it. It's heavy in her palm and warm, like an ember. She'd seen it dozens of time before, wielded by her father with an expert hand. Somehow, the weight of that expectation is daunting. "Are you sure? I barely did anything, this was all you—"[break][break]

Helios merely grunts and extends his arm. An empty bracelet is tied around his wrist and after a moment, Luka places the stone there. She hesitates a beat longer, then suddenly and swiftly pulls him into a hug.[break][break]

Her father's Blaziken stiffens. Then, awkwardly, he raises a hand to pat the top of her head, like he used to do when she was small. Luka smiles against the feathers of his chest, sniffs once, and lets him go.[break][break]

"You're going to do great out there," she promises. "And I'll do my best to help you out, okay?"[break][break]

---

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It's almost poetic for him to have started this tournament against a Riolu only to end with KING WAYLAND's Lucario. Helios steps into the center of the ring and sizes up his opponent, talons digging into the earth beneath him. After having started off his last fight on such bad footing, Helios is determined not to repeat the same mistake.[break][break]

He nods once, a courtesy. Steam pours from his mouth as he inhales, centering himself and assuming a fighting stance. Feet apart, arms raised, focus clear and razor-sharp.[break][break]

And he does indeed move first, lunging forwards with a burst of speed and a flurry of quick, precise punches. He doesn't start out strong but he starts out fast, refusing to allow his opponent any time to strategize or build up momentum against him.

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"What—"[break][break]

Faster than she can blink, Luka is transported away from the light and the promise of self-martyrdom. She reels in place for a moment, dizzy and disoriented, until horrifying realization dawns on her.[break][break]

"Why did you— Remy, you can't!"[break][break]

Her shouted protest joins the cacophony around them, almost lost amongst the noise. And rather than accept his sacrifice Luka pushes herself forwards, frantically hurrying back to what should be her place.[break][break]

Remiel Calcifet's confession is the only thing that stops her. Luka freezes mid-step, mouth agape and eyes widening to saucers. Her heart lurches— but for some reason, it's not with joy. Instead it feels like it's breaking all over again.[break][break]

And it makes her all the more resolute. It's a noble thing, to die for love. Perhaps they're just as foolish as Romeo and Juliet, but isn't that oh-so romantic?[break][break]

She doesn't release her Pokemon to help her— she knows intrinsically that they'll try and stop her too. Instead Luka tries to force Remiel out, using whatever strength remains in her frail limbs to push him back to safety.[break][break]

"People need you, Remiel! Galar needs you, especially now. You can't leave an entire nation hanging like this! And I—"[break][break]

Does she really need to say it? If she disappears, some people might miss her. Some might mourn. But her life is inconsequential, a transient thing. She's not a prince, not an ambassador, not a gym leader or champion. She drifts into other people's lives like a petal on a stream, and her exit will be just as quiet.[break][break]

"Besides," she reasons, eyes suddenly bright with a faint spark of hope, "I saw— that is, Ume's future sight predicted a system failure!" It's a long shot, but maybe it's enough to convince him to give her up. She continues to tug insistently on his arm, to shove her way into the light while her double cackles and goads her on.[break][break]

"It might...maybe that means that we still have a chance. That no one will be deleted! But let me be the one to take this gamble, okay? Please." She elbows her way beside Remiel and tries to shove him out of the way. "You have so much more to live for."

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- bruh moment[break]
- trying to fight Remiel Calcifet for the right to die lmao[break]
- remembers the system failure might mean that they don't get deleted?

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"Ehhh...really? That's so sweet! How much do they cost? I probably won't use it much either, but it'll be fun to have..."[break][break]

And typical of her, she oohs and aahs over the adorable Umbreon lure jayden cross pulls out next. "Wait wait...that's soooo cute! Can I borrow it?"[break][break]

A flush. "I mean...sorry! T-that's kind of rude to ask, erm...I just thought, um! M-maybe it would help me pull up som better fish..."

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